By Robert Hart, Parliamentary Reporter 
Nicholson (left) and Johnson (right)
THE REMAINING two Bills required for the establishment of the controversial Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as Jamaica's final court of appeal were passed in the Senate yesterday during a marathon eight-hour session at Gordon House.
Nearing the end of what was the second day of historic parliamentary deliberations on the abolition and replacement (with the CCJ) of the Jamaican right to appeal to the United Kingdom Privy Council, Government senators out-voted the Opposition 10 to four on the Bill entitled The Caribbean Court of Justice Act, 2004. The poll came seven-and-a-half hours after the debate was opened by Justice Minister Senator A.J. Nicholson.
He was followed by seven others on both sides of the parliamentary divide, who reiterated extensive arguments already made for and against the CCJ in the run-up to the Court's expected establishment by December this year.
In addressing one of the major concerns, Senator Nicholson stressed that the Government was willing to look at the possibility of entrenching the CCJ in the Constitution at a later date.
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He noted too that such a move would require the people's vote through a referendum such as was unsuccessfully demanded by the Opposition when the impending CCJ first became topical. The Opposition had wanted a referendum to decide whether the wider society wanted appeals to the Privy Council abolished.
The second Bill considered on the day required, much to the Government members' annoyance, a further half hour of consideration. Senator Anthony Johnson, Leader of Opposition Business, was adamant that he be allowed to discuss The Judicature (Apellate Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Act, 2004. He was accompanied, during a short session of contributions, by Opposition Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, who had not been present to contribute to the debate held the previous day. That debate was on the CCJ (Constitutional Amendment) Bill, which provides for the abolition of Appeals to the Privy Council. However, the Opposition members had walked out as the debate neared its end, leaving Government senators to vote on the Bill on Thursday.
The CCJ Act, passed yesterday, makes provisions for the implementation of the agreement establishing the CCJ and connected matters. Meanwhile, the Judicature (Appellate Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill contains transitional provisions to remove reference to the Privy Council.
